10 Tips for Planning your Jewish Interfaith Wedding

10 tips to planning your Jewish Interfaith wedding.

When bringing two individuals from two different backgrounds together to create a shared wedding ceremony, it does take a little more time to plan. Many coupes leave this task toward the end of the planning but we have found that the sooner you start to plan your ceremony, much of the stress and tension goes away almost immediately. Working with a ceremony coach can save time, reduce stress and help you create a deeply meaningful rite of passage. Yehudit Steinberg, wedding consultant and ceremony designer produced this slideshow. Enjoy!

My Jewish fiance has agreed to a Catholic Church wedding.

"Will he have to become Catholic?”

No. The Catholic Church recognizes the natural right of adult persons to validly enter marriage. This recognition is not limited to Catholics or even to Christians.

The marriage of a Catholic to a person who is not baptized is known as a “disparity of cult,” a severe-sounding phrase with the good intention of reminding us that strongly held religious differences need to be discussed and given sufficient attention prior to marriage. These marriages require dispensation from the bishop. The ceremony can be short and can even serve as a vehicle for increased Jewish-Catholic understanding. An invitation could be offered for a Jewish family member to proclaim the first reading since it traditionally comes from the Hebrew scriptures. A rabbi can offer a blessing.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that religious differences don’t constitute “an insurmountable obstacle for marriage” if the engaged parties are respectful and open about the gifts and differences they have received from their respective religious communities. Essentially, the church challenges both partners to be conscious of their religious commitments and to express them to one another with integrity. The Catholic party is challenged to do all that is possible to baptize and raise children as Catholics.

Read full article on US Catholic website

Destination Weddings_Interfaith Outdoor Ceremonies

Recently we've been asked if we perform elopements and intimate weddings for Jewish and Interfaith couples. Here is a compilation of some of our favorite outdoor ceremonies we've worked on around the San Francisco Bay, Carmel and Napa Sonoma Wine Country. Stay tuned for the launch of our Elopement and Intimate Wedding Packages on August 1st.

Ask An Interfaith Rabbi: Wedding Challah for the Ceremony?

Do we need to have a challah at our ceremony?



Wedding Challah [a large braided loaf of egg-rich bread] is a tradition at the reception of Jewish Weddings. Prior to the meal being served, there is a wine and challah blessing. It is not a requirement, but if you have practicing Jews at the reception, they might miss it.

It is customary to ask your rabbi to lead the brachot [prayers] for this. If you are fortunate enough to have grandparents at your wedding, asking them to lead the blessings [provided they are familiar with the ritual], it is a great way to involve them in your wedding. We have found that many of the grandparents asked take great joy and honor to be included in this way. If you do not have any grandparents to ask, ask your parents.

Wedding challah is a large bread that can feed everyone. Some couples choose small one that is eaten by the head table. In Oakland area, Grand Bakery [3264 Grand Ave Oakland , CA 94610 510-465-1110 ] makes kosher challah. If your event is not kosher, Russian bakeries make good challah, not necessarily kosher.

You can place the wine, kiddush cup, challah and knife on a moving cart to be wheeled out to dining area. After the prayer, wheeled back off to the side.

Want to try your hand at baking one of these braided goodies? The Budding Baker has posted her favorite challah recipe and it just happens to be a family tradition.

Ask An Interfaith Rabbi

Are Jewish interfaith marriages traditional?
Jewish interfaith marriages are as traditional as a wedding when both partners are Jewish. There were times in Jewish history, such as the time of the Conquest of Canaan, when inter-tribal, interfaith marriages were not only discouraged but outright prohibited. There were other times, such as during the Patriarchal Period and during the Persian Period, when interfaith marriages were permitted, as with Hagar (an Egyptian), Ruth (a Moabitess), Tamar (a Canaanitess), and in Persia between Esther and King Ahasheverosh.